Boxes, Bundles, Tubes, and Rounds

Historical
Review by Kurt LaughlinProduct Review by Tim Streeter

This
article examines some of the ammunition used for the 105mm howitzer, the various
ways it was packaged, and how 1/35 scale ordnance compares to the real thing.
Modelers who wish to make their own decals for boxes and tubes should find this
useful for creating realistic markings.

Overview

The
M2 105mm howitzer was incorporated in the U.S. Army inventory in the early 1930s
as the primary divisional artillery weapon. Self-propelled and lightweight airborne
versions were developed during WWII and the 105mm howitzer became the most produced
U.S. artillery weapon of WWII. During the war, 18.1% of all artillery ammunition
expended in combat by the U.S. was the 105mm HE M1 with the M48 or M54 fuze, with
another 2.5% being unfuzed HE rounds. One out of every five shells fired by the
U.S. Army during the war was 105mm HE. It truly was THE most common round.

The
howitzer used "semi-fixed" ammunition where the projectile was loaded
into the weapon with the metal cartridge case as a single round, but it could
be separated to adjust the powder charge. The rounds were individually packed
in fiber (cardboard) containers then packed in a variety of outer containers.
Initially 105mm ammunition was packed in two-round wooden boxes, but switched
to three-round bundles starting in 1941. Because of problems with damage to the
ammunition and difficulties in handling the heavy bundles (which weighed more
than 150 pounds) in 1943 a "short" two-round wooden box (weighing a
mere 120 pounds) was introduced that packed projectiles and cartridge cases in
separate fiber containers. This added burdens at the firing site and risked loss
of lot traceabilty so in early 1944 it was recommended that two-round "long"
wooden boxes replace the bundles and short boxes. Despite the changeover, three-round
bundles still appeared in ammunition supply catalogs as late as 1951. Finally,
for shipment to tropical areas a single-round metal can was created and entered
service in early 1944.